The thickening ridge in his pants rubbed against her leg. A soft sound escaped her lips as Perry slipped a finger inside her and she pressed herself eagerly against his palm, seeking more friction.
“Do not rush, my darling,” he said, kissing a path down the side of her neck, his heated words sending shivers to the tips of her nipples.
“But I need it,” she whimpered.
His gentle hand slid beneath the fine fabric of her dress to cup her neglected breast, brushing his thumb back and forth over the hardened peak. The fire only grew as Perry slipped another finger next to his first one, filling her. It was the touch she craved, yet still she yearned for more. Her body flooded with heat, melting into his touch.
Perry inhaled sharply as he encountered the evidence of her arousal on his fingers.
“You are so ready for me, my countess,” he mumbled hot against her skin. “I can’t wait be inside you. I have waited a lifetime to feel you again.”
Charlotte’s stomach tightened, the overwhelming sensation bringing her closer to the release she craved. “Perry, please…”
He groaned as he worked his fingers inside her. “You like it when I speak to you this way. You tightened around my fingers, my naughty wife.” His thumb moved against her little bundle of nerves, and she jerked at the sensation.
The back of the pianoforte dug into her back as she leaned against it with a soft cry, clutching him desperately as her climax slammed through her body. He had given her a taste, but Charlotte was ready to surrender completely. To be his wife in all ways. Willingly. Joyously. Wickedly.
She licked her lips and brought her hand to lift her skirts. Charlotte arched into him, rubbing her soaked heat against his throbbing length.
“I want more,” she said, eliciting a growl from Perry as he reached down to undo his breeches. She pulled his mouth back to hers and, reluctance forgotten, did exactly what she wanted. Their tongues teased, and she nibbled on his bottom lip, heightening her excitement. Her hand played in the curls at the nape of his neck and pulled gently on the strands, gripping him as though she would perish if he let go.
The soft hush of a button being undone, then another, was the only sound, heightening her excitement.
Her husband stilled, eyes wide.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway, approaching the drawing room at an alarming pace. Perry swore under his breath and pulled down her skirts to protect her modesty, then adjusted himself to hide the evidence of his arousal in his tight breeches.
Charlotte smirked, hiding her smile with the tips of her fingers.
Her body protested the interruption. She still vibrated from the arousal still pumping through her blood.
A distance came between them, and Charlotte rushed to the pianoforte, poised to return to her music. She played a few lines of the song from memory, frustrated that her sheets were scattered around her like leaves. It was positively dreadful.
Perry leaned over the pianoforte to listen, a picture of perfect innocence.
Bentley cleared his throat.
“Apologies, my lord, but Carter is ready for you upstairs,” thebutler said, his tone serious. “He will help you with your preparations for tonight’s ball.”
“Yes, of course.” Perry brushed his palms against the front of his waistcoat and clutched his hands in front of him. “Tell him I will join him at once. We are very eager to prepare for our first foray into the social scene tonight. I cannot wait to introduce my beautiful bride at the Covington Ball.” The butler nodded and quit the room.
Her cheeks grew hot at his words. He spoke of her as though this wasn’t a marriage of convenience. The way he described her as one would a young bride warmed her heart. If he chose to see this as a happy marriage, so would she.
Digging her teeth into her bottom lip, Charlotte squeezed her legs together in anticipation of how she would express her gratitude to her husband tonight. She was eager to resume that which had been interrupted.
As soon as Bentley removed himself from the room, Perry turned to lock eyes with Charlotte, a lingering heat in his gaze.
“We will resume this later, my lady.”
Her lips parted, but she pressed them together to stifle a giggle.
“Indeed. You have left me wanting, husband.”
Perry blushed at the words and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips before parting. “I will see to it tonight, wife.”
Her eyes followed him as he left the room, leaving it duller and emptier than it was before. She tidied up the papers, and returned them to their proper place on the music stand with a smile teasing her lips. Aamina would be looking for her to rest and have a bath before beginning the preparations carefully dictated by Louisa. Her sister-in-law had given her all the instructions to ensure she would make quite an impression.
It would not be difficult to act the part of the happy bride if he continued to make her body sing like that. She was unsure how she would endure the torture of socialization, while anticipating what would happen once the event was over. She pressed her palm to heroverheated cheek. No rouge would be required for her face. Her lips were still tingling from his kisses; her body warm with his parting promise of what was to come. Waiting during the festivities would be agony.
